School probes professor over coed’s claim

The Lyceum of the Philippines has started to investigate one of its professors who allegedly offered a female student a ride and brought her to a hotel in exchange of a passing grade.

Joy (not her real name), a fourth year student, accused the instructor of sexual harassment in a Facebook post last Thursday that has gone viral.

The victim has since removed the post in her Facebook account, according to Sandra Recto, director of Communications and Public Affairs Department.

Recto confirmed that the school has begun the probe even in the absence of a complaint. “We encouraged the student to file a complaint so that administrative sanctions can be meted if the charges are proven true,” said Recto.

Nevertheless, Recto said the school can dispense with the services of the professor, whom she said only works part-time. “He worked for two semesters,” she said. “We can discontinue his services next semester.”

Recto, who has been with Lyceum since 2008, said this is the first time that the school is rocked by a case of alleged sexual harassment.

With a school population of 10,000 in Intramuros, Manila alone, Lyceum takes pride in its International Hotel Management and Tourism courses.

The alleged scandal comes during examination week.

In her Facebook post, Joy called and agreed to meet with her professor at a restaurant on Matalino St. in Quezon City to make up for a missed examination.

During the meet-up, the instructor had a change of mind and told the student to take the exam at school, Joy claimed.

Joy said she initially declined the professor’s offer, but was prevailed to ride his car.

On the way to school, Joy said the professor proposed that they go out on a date instead, telling her that she would surely flunk the test.

Joy alleged that the professor drove his car toward the basement parking of a popular lodging chain on Banawe St. That was when Joy hatched an escape plan with the help of her boyfriend.

Joy said he told her professor that there was an emergency at home and promptly got out of the car.